Everyone’s a little Irish at this friendly place! Bring the kiddies, bring your grandpa—everyone else does (which means it can get a little crowded and noisy, but we love it anyway). The whole joint smells wonderfully like hot cereal and the brewery tanks are visible from the eating area. We recommend the perfect fish and chips paired with a pint o’ the Rye’t Side of Dublin. Sláinte!

There’s not a whole heck of a lot to eat this far north in the city, so Far Northeast Heights dwellers are happy this clean, reliable Chinese joint set up in their neck of the woods. Serene earth tones and tasteful lighting set the mood. On the table, sesame chicken displays perfectly fried breading that’s crisp without being greasy and is generously sauced with sweet and savory soy notes. Wash those heavier fried foods down with a light, crisp Chinese beer.

The browned, freshly ground turkey burger is a total masterstroke, one that explodes in the mouth and hits a high-water mark for juiciness. It’s not all burgers, either: The full-sized salads practically come in boats here, and the beer is local.

Sure, you go in thinking you’ll be good and get a skinny latte, scrambled egg whites, and a side of turkey and green chile sausage, but five minutes later somebody’s saying “apple pie with ice cream” and the voice is coming from your mouth. Give in. It tastes good.

Sure, you go in thinking you’ll be good and get a skinny latte, scrambled egg whites and a side of turkey and green chile sausage, but five minutes later somebody’s saying “apple pie with ice cream” and the voice is coming from your mouth. Give in. It tastes good.

Il Vicino’s thin-crusted, gourmet-topped pizzas are perennial favorites among readers, but the house-brewed beers are equally popular. Order at the register and a server brings the food to your table, making weekday lunches speedy. The open kitchen gives you something to stare at while you wait. Stop in for a quick lunch or a late afternoon microbrew at one of the patio tables.

Jade is 90 percent identical to any of the dozens of Chinese restaurants in town, but come for that other 10 percent--the little things Jade does better than all the rest. Take the barbecued spare ribs for example. At Jade, the barbecue sauce is sharper, spicier and with a hint of cherry flavor, and it’s just the first in a series of pleasant little surprises. The wonton soup tastes like it came from a stock and not just an overly salted broth. The sesame chicken is breaded Japanese-style instead of being heavily battered, and the duck is served in fat little chunks which are tender and pan-fried with the skin still on.

This Asian-American eatery has a reputation for retro Pacific Rim decor and the clink of drinks with little umbrellas in them. If you're in the mood for East-meets-West fare like lettuce wraps, orange peel beef or Tokyo crispy tofu, then load up the Prius and take a drive down Paseo del Norte. You’ll also find a large selection of fine loose teas and more liquor than you can shake a limbo stick at. Have a yen for wine? Here it comes in white, red and plum.

We're pretty sure if you take any food and stuff it with cheese, dip it in batter and deep-fry the sucker until it's crunchy and golden-brown, it's going to be good. But try the relleno at Papa Nachos—you’ll taste art. While you’re at it, try the unique green chile sauce (which happens to be excellent on turkey) or any of the burritos wrapped in fresh, tender tortillas.

Sakura Sushi serves fresh, generous sushi (duh), as well as dishes from Thailand and Laos out of a small strip mall on north Wyoming. But if you order one thing, make sure it’s the udon soup. One bowl is big enough for four people. Dip a spoon in and you’ll strike heaps of firm, dense noodles, caramelized meats and crisp-tender vegetables floating in a sweet-and-savory broth. The curries and goyza appetizers are among the menu’s other high notes.

Wine flights are the best way to try different selections without going broke, and Savoy has some interesting choices. They pair perfectly with the restaurant’s stunning interiors and lovely New American dishes—stovetop clam bake, grilled peach salad and the house charcuterie plate. For dessert, there’s praline-chocolate torte, house-made blackberry-Chambord ice cream, cheese plates and, of course, a glass of La Spinetta Moscato d’Asti.

Brick-oven pizza may have come to us from California, but they do it pretty well here in New Mexico. The chicken Caesar pizza is genius with white cream sauce and a salad right on top of the pie. And if the pizzas don’t get you going, there’s homemade pasta, yummy minestrone and a lineup of excellent beer. Perhaps the best thing on the menu is the torta dessert—a mountain of puff pastry, baked apples and cinnamon ice cream. Dive in with a demitasse of fresh espresso.

Brick-oven pizza may have come to us from California, but they do it pretty well here in New Mexico. The chicken Caesar pizza is genius with white cream sauce and a salad right on top of the pie. And if the pizzas don’t get you going, there’s homemade pasta, yummy minestrone and a lineup of excellent beer. Perhaps the best thing on the menu is the torta dessert—a mountain of puff pastry, baked apples and cinnamon ice cream. Dive in with a demitasse of fresh espresso.

One of you wants pizza, another insists on soup and salad, the third won’t eat anything but pasta. Don’t waste time fighting; just get on over to Tomato Cafe. It’s quick, inexpensive and all-you-can-eat. Those aren’t usually words you’d use to describe genuinely good food but the pizza here is. Super-thin-crusted and topped with things like feta, basil, barbecued chicken and artichoke hearts, it’s a dream come true (except for Chicago-style fans).

Trombino's Bistro Italiano has been an institution of family-style Italian dining in the Heights for more than 30 years. It houses an impressively fat menu that includes a full bar, espresso drinks and an ample wine list. The service is quicker than a Hollywood marriage, and the waitstaff seems particularly knowledgeable about the food and wines. Gravitate to the more rustic Italian fare—lemon-basil chicken salad, grilled homemade Italian sausage, prosciutto-wrapped asparagus and manicotti--all are amply portioned and tasty.

Gyros, souvlaki, taramasalata, roast chicken and potatoes, leg of lamb, lentil soup—the menu at Zorba’s rings familiar and no wonder: The family behind Zorba’s is the same that opened the Olympia Café near UNM more than 35 years ago. But here, in the far Northeast Heights, you’ll notice a long, expanded list of dishes including more seafood and desserts, plus a lot of elbow room and a generous patio.

Formerly known as The Fox and Hound, Craft Republic remains true to typical sports bars: hip-hop music blasting, TVs blaring and pretty waitresses bustling. But one glance at the extensive menu is all it takes to clue you in that it is a fine restaurant, as well. There’s no shame here, fill your comfort food needs with everything from BBQ chipotle burgers to “The Dilemma:” a hand-battered crispy chicken sandwich with bacon, maple miso butter and a sunny-side up fried egg.

Brightly colored walls trimmed in gold and pools of low light, Jasmine has a sort of classed-up opium den feel. There are more than 60 items, plus sushi; the menu gives an equitable amount of attention to appetizers, soups, salads, entrées and an entire page of vegetarian dishes. The service is awesome, and so are the No. 18 (spicy beef yum nuah salad), the fresh spring rolls and the pad Thai.